And for the fifth straight year, advocates of educational technology will look to Congress to preserve the program, which this year -- thanks to Congress -- will receive $267 million in funding.

"Although history shows that President Bush does not support the EETT program despite the strong scientifically based research results demonstrating significant gains in student achievement, it is still shocking that the reality of a slowing economy and America's lagging results in the international PISA tests have not convinced the president of the importance of...maximizing the potential of technology in our schools," said Mary Ann Wolf, executive director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), in a statement.

"Data show that EETT makes a big difference, and SETDA respects Congress's continual understanding and investment in this program. We once again look to Congress to ensure that the tremendous gains from EETT will continue in 2009."

The White House budget proposal, which was sent to Congress on Feb. 4, asks lawmakers to sign off on nearly $60 billion for education programs altogether next year. That amount equals what is being spent this year, without an increase to keep pace with inflation.

Among Bush's other proposals for the upcoming budget year is a push for Congress to restore $600 million that lawmakers cut from the Reading First program, which serves low-income children.

The program has received largely favorable reviews from state and local education officials since its inception. But it also has been criticized by federal investigators for conflicts of interest and mismanagement.

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said there were problems with the program initially but that these have been addressed and the students being served under the initiative are making strides in reading.

The administration also is renewing a push for a $300 million proposal that would allow poor students to transfer to better public schools outside their district or to private schools, if their schools failed to meet benchmarks under the No Child Left Behind Act or had low graduation rates.

Democrats are staunchly opposed to using federal dollars for private school vouchers and have rejected similar administration proposals in the past.

Spellings said it's unfair to force kids to stay in troubled schools. "When they are broken chronically, we have to do something different," she said.

Title I grants, the main source of federal funding for poor students, would get $14.3 billion, about a 3 percent increase from this year, under the administration's proposal. About half of the nation's schools, and two-thirds of elementary schools, receive Title I funding.